Metta World Peace is embarking on the next chapter of his basketball career, this time on the sidelines.
Cal State LA announced that the former NBA champion and one of the league’s premier defenders has joined its women’s basketball program as Associate Head Coach, adding decades of playing experience and championship pedigree to the Golden Eagles’ coaching staff.
Best known for his pivotal role in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2010 NBA championship run, World Peace spent 17 seasons in the NBA, earning the 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award while also making four NBA All-Defensive Teams and one All-NBA selection. His toughness, defensive instincts, and leadership made him one of the most respected competitors of his era.
The move marks another step in World Peace’s transition into coaching and player development. His experience at the highest level of basketball is expected to provide valuable mentorship for Cal State LA’s student-athletes, both on and off the court.
For the Golden Eagles, the addition brings a recognizable basketball figure to the program while adding someone who understands what it takes to compete and win at the sport’s highest level. World Peace’s emphasis on defense, preparation, and accountability could help shape the program’s identity moving forward.
With one of the NBA’s most accomplished defenders now on the bench, Cal State LA women’s basketball gains a coach whose résumé includes championship success, elite defensive expertise, and years of experience competing against the game’s greatest players.
World Peace now returns to Los Angeles, where he helped deliver an NBA title to the Lakers, ready to begin a new mission: developing the next generation of collegiate basketball talent.
